Accurately estimating install time

ABSTRACT

Timing parameters that influence an install time interval for installing a product on computing machines in a test environment in accordance with an installation configuration option are identified. A test value of the timing parameter and a test value of the install time are determined for each of the computing machines. The test values of the timing parameter and the install time determined for the sample computing machines are analyzed to determine an install time calculation expression for the installation configuration option. For installation in accordance with the installation configuration option in a normal operating environment, a current value of each of the timing parameters of the predetermined install time calculation expression for the installation configuration option. The install time interval in the normal operating environment is estimated based on the current value of the timing parameters and the install time calculation expression.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of, and claims the priority benefitof, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/342,567 filed on 3 Jan. 2012.

BACKGROUND

Embodiments of the inventive subject matter generally relate to thefield of computers and, more particularly, to accurately estimatinginstall time.

An enterprise environment comprises an interconnection/integration ofmultiple computer systems, storage devices, local and/or remotedatabases, and possibly multiple communication networks with differentlatencies/delays. The enterprise environment can comprise aninterconnection between legacy systems and non-legacy systems thatsupport different communication protocols. The enterprise environmentcan comprise multiple machines from different manufacturers withdifferent configurations, hardware, platforms, operating systems, memoryconfigurations, partitions, and performance characteristics. As a resultof this variability, product installation in an enterprise environmentcan consume a variable and unpredictable amount of time.

SUMMARY

Various embodiments for estimating the install time are disclosed. Inone embodiment, a timing parameter that influences the install time forinstalling a product on a plurality of sample computing machines in atest environment in accordance with an installation operation isidentified. For each of the plurality of sample computing machines, atest value of the timing parameter is determined for the samplecomputing machine based on execution of timing parameter test operationsassociated with the timing parameter. For each of the plurality ofsample computing machines, a test value of the install time for thesample computing machine is determined based on execution of theinstallation operation. A timing coefficient is determined for thetiming parameter based on the test values of the timing parameter andthe test values of the install time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present embodiments may be better understood, and numerous objects,features, and advantages made apparent to those skilled in the art byreferencing the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram conceptual diagram illustrating exampleoperations for determining timing coefficients to estimate the installtime.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating example operations for estimatingthe install time in a normal operating environment based on previouslycalculated timing coefficients.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating example operations for determiningtiming coefficients to estimate the install time.

FIG. 4 is a continuation of FIG. 3 and also illustrates exampleoperations for determining timing coefficients to estimate the installtime.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating example operations for estimatingthe install time using previously calculated timing coefficients.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of one embodiment of an electronic systemincluding a mechanism for estimating the install time.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT(S)

The description that follows includes exemplary systems, methods,techniques, instruction sequences, and computer program products thatembody techniques of the present inventive subject matter. However, itis understood that the described embodiments may be practiced withoutthese specific details. For instance, although examples refer toestimating the install time for installing a product on a machine in anenterprise environment, embodiments are not so limited. In otherembodiments, the operations described herein can be extended todetermining the install time for installing the product across multiplemachines in a distributed manner. In other instances, well-knowninstruction instances, protocols, structures, and techniques have notbeen shown in detail in order not to obfuscate the description.

Installing a product in an enterprise environment typically comprisesinstalling multiple components/packages for use as an integratedsolution. The enterprise environment can comprise machines withdifferent hardware, software, and firmware. Although the time intervalrequired to install the product (“install time”) can be predetermined ina test environment, the test environment install time can be verydifferent from the install time in a normal operating environment (alsoreferred to as an actual operating environment or a non-test operatingenvironment). This may be because of the differences in theconfiguration of the machines in the normal operating environment andthe test environment, user interaction in the installation process, theeffect of other processes executing in the normal operating environment,and other such factors (e.g., network topology, I/O performance,processor speeds, available physical memory, available storage space,current workload of the machines, network speed, type of database,etc.). Because of the scale and potential complexity of the enterpriseenvironment, product installation in the enterprise environment canconsume a variable and unpredictable amount of time. Lack of knowledgeregarding how long the installation and deployment of the product in theenterprise environment will take can adversely affect support/servicesprovided by the enterprise environment.

It would be beneficial (e.g., to administrators of the enterpriseenvironment) if the install time in the normal operating environment(i.e., a customer's enterprise environment) could be estimated based oninformation collected in the normal operating environment. In a testenvironment, an install time estimation unit can determine one or moretiming parameters that influence the install time based, at least inpart, on an installation configuration option in accordance with whichthe product will be installed. Test environment timing parameter valuescan be determined for each of the timing parameters. Additionally,installation operations that are performed in accordance with theinstallation configuration option can be executed in the testenvironment to determine test environment install time values. The testenvironment timing parameter values and the test environment installtime values can be analyzed to determine a timing coefficient for eachof the timing parameters. Prior to executing the installation operationsin the normal operating environment, the install time estimation unitcan determine current timing parameter values for each of the timingparameters in the normal operating environment. The current timingparameter values can be combined with the previously determined timingcoefficients to estimate the install time in the normal operatingenvironment. Such a mechanism for estimating the install time based oninformation collected in the normal operating environment can improvethe accuracy of the estimated install time. Determining a more accurateestimate of the install time can enable the administrators of theenterprise environment to schedule the installation during appropriatetime intervals (e.g., during scheduled maintenance time intervals,during time intervals when the number of incoming service requests islow, etc.), to schedule other operations and tasks around theinstallation process, etc.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating example operations fordetermining timing coefficients to estimate the install time. FIG. 1depicts a test environment 102 comprising sample machines 104, 106, 108,and 110. Depending on the network configuration of the test environment102, the sample machines 104, 106, 108, and 110 may or may not beinterconnected with each other. FIG. 1 also depicts an installation unit112 and an install time estimation unit 114. The install time estimationunit 114 comprises a timing statistics determination unit 116 coupledwith a timing coefficient calculation unit 118. The installation unit112 can comprise functionality to execute one or more installationoperations to install a product/service on the plurality of samplemachines 104, 106, 108, and 110 in the test environment 102. In someimplementations, the install time estimation unit 114 may be implementedas part of the installation unit 112. In other words, the installationunit 112 can be instrumented so that the installation unit 112 itselfcan record and collect the timing statistics (e.g., so that theinstallation unit 112 executes functionality of the install timeestimation unit 114). In other implementations, the install timeestimation unit 114 can be implemented separately from the installationunit 112. The install time estimation unit 114 in conjunction with theinstallation unit 112 can execute operations described below in stagesA-E to determine timing coefficients in the test environment that cansubsequently be used to estimate the install time in a normal operatingenvironment.

At stage A, the installation unit 112 determines an installationconfiguration option selected for installing a product in the testenvironment 102. Installing the product typically comprises installationof one or more components (e.g., services, applications, files, etc.) ofthe product. A user can select (e.g., choose to install) all/some ofthese components of the product. The installation configuration optionindicates which of the components of the product were selected by theuser for installation. As will be further described below, depending onthe selected installation configuration option, the installation unit112 executes a different set of operations for installing the product.

At stage B, the installation unit 112 determines an install plan thatcomprises one or more operations associated with the installationconfiguration option. The install plan identifies the installationoperations that should be executed to install the product in accordancewith the installation configuration option. As described above,installing the product in accordance with the selected installationconfiguration option typically comprises installation of one or morecomponents selected by the user. The install plan comprises a list ofoperations (e.g., data copy operations, database creation and accessoperations, etc.) that will be executed to install the componentsselected by the user. The installation unit 112 generates a differentinstall plan for executing a different set of installation operationsdepending on the selected installation configuration option. Forexample, selecting a first installation configuration option may resultin an install plan that comprises large number of database accessoperations, while selecting a second installation configuration optionmay result in an install plan that comprises only data copy operationsand process start/shut down operations (and little to no database accessoperations).

At stage C, the timing statistics determination unit 116 determines testenvironment timing statistics for each of the plurality of samplemachines 104, 106, 108, 110 in the test environment 102 based, at leastin part, on the install plan associated with the installationconfiguration option. The timing statistics determination unit 116identifies timing parameters that influence the install time associatedwith installing the product in accordance with the installationconfiguration option. For example, if the install plan indicates thatonly data copy operations and process shutdown operations will beexecuted to install the product in accordance with the selectedinstallation configuration option, the timing statistics determinationunit 116 identifies a data copy parameter and a process shutdownparameter as the timing parameters for the installation configurationoption. In this example, the timing statistics determination unit 116determines timing parameter test operations for the data copy parameterand the process shutdown parameter to determine the time consumed inexecuting the data copy operations and the process shutdown operationsin the test environment. It is noted that depending on the selectedinstallation configuration option and the corresponding install plan,the install time can be influenced by other suitable timing parameters(e.g., network access operations, database access operations, etc.).

In the above example, the timing statistics determination unit 116determines to execute a predetermined number of iterations of the timingparameter test operations for the data copy parameter and the processshutdown parameter. As will be further described below in FIGS. 3-4, foreach iteration, the timing statistics determination unit 116 determinesa corresponding test environment timing parameter value. For example,the timing statistics determination unit 116 executes 200 iterations ofthe timing parameter test operations for the data copy parameter andexecutes 200 iterations of the timing parameter test operations for theprocess shutdown parameter. In this example, the timing statisticsdetermination unit 116 determines corresponding 200 data copy timevalues and 200 process shutdown time values. The timing statisticsdetermination unit 116 calculates an average of the 200 data copy timevalues to determine a test data copy time value for the sample machine.Likewise, the timing statistics determination unit 116 calculates anaverage of the 200 process shutdown time values to determine a testprocess shutdown time value for the sample machine. Additionally, thetiming statistics determination unit 116 also executes the predeterminednumber of iterations of the installation operations identified by theinstall plan (determined at stage B). With reference to the aboveexample, where the timing parameter test operations were executed 200times, the timing statistics determination unit 116 executes theinstallation operations (e.g., install the product on the samplemachines in accordance with the installation configuration option) 200times. The timing statistics determination unit 116 determinescorresponding 200 install time values and calculates an average of the200 install time values to determine a test install time value for thesample machine.

At stage D, the timing coefficient calculation unit 118 identifies oneor more timing coefficients associated with the installationconfiguration option based on processing the test environment timingstatistics for each of the plurality of the test machines. Withreference to the above example, the data copy parameter and the processshutdown parameter were determined to be the timing parameters for theselected installation configuration option. Accordingly, at stage C, thetiming statistics determination unit 116 determined the test environmenttiming statistics comprising the test values of the timing parameters(“test timing parameter values”) and the test value of the install time(“test install time value”) for each of the sample machines 104, 106,108, and 110. Subsequently, at stage D, the timing coefficientcalculation unit 118 executes linear regression operations (or othersuitable statistical analysis techniques or data extrapolationoperations) using the test environment timing statistics to determine atiming coefficient for each of the timing parameters associated with theselected installation configuration option, as will further be describedin FIGS. 3-4. For example, the timing coefficient calculation unit 118determines the timing coefficients so that the install time can beexpressed as at least a combination of the timing coefficients and thecorresponding timing parameters.

At stage E, the timing coefficient calculation unit 118 stores the oneor more timing coefficients to subsequently estimate the install time ina normal operating environment when the installation configurationoption is selected. In some implementations, the timing coefficients canbe stored as part of the installation unit 112. An indication of thecorresponding timing parameters and the installation configurationoption can also be stored. In some implementations, information aboutthe test environment 102 (e.g., network configuration, and machineconfiguration of the sample machines 104, 106, 108, 110 etc.) based onwhich the timing coefficients were determined can also be stored. Theinstallation unit 112 may also be instrumented to include a process forcollecting timing statistics in the normal operating environment(referred to herein as “current timing statistics”) to aid in estimatingthe install time in the normal operating environment. As will further bedescribed with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 5, the install time forinstalling the product in the normal operating environment can beestimated based on the selected installation configuration option, thecorresponding timing coefficients, and the current timing statistics.

It is noted as described above, that the timing parameter testoperations and the installation operations are executed on the pluralityof sample machines 104, 106, 108, and 110 in the test environment 102.The plurality of sample machines may implement a common operatingplatform but each of the plurality of sample machines can comprise adifferent machine configuration (e.g., different hardware, differentoperating system versions, etc.). For example, the plurality of thesample machines 104, 106, 108, and 110 can operate on an IBM AIX®platform but can implement different versions of the AIX platform. Themachine configuration of each of the sample machines 104, 106, 108, and110 and the number of the sample machines that implement the samemachine configuration can vary. In some implementations, if thedistribution, network configuration, and machine configuration ofmachines in the normal operating environment (e.g., a customerenvironment in which the product will eventually be installed) is knowna priori, the test environment 102 and the sample machines 104, 106,108, and 110 can be selected based on knowledge of the normal operatingenvironment. In this implementation, the test environment timingstatistics may be tailored to the normal operating environment, thusensuring a more accurate install time estimate in the normal operatingenvironment. In other implementations, however, the test environmenttiming statistics can be determined for various combinations in thedistribution, network configuration, and machine configuration in thenormal operating environment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating example operations for estimatingthe install time in a normal operating environment based on previouslycalculated timing coefficients. FIG. 2 depicts a normal operatingenvironment 202 comprising a computing machine 204. FIG. 2 also depictsan instrumented installation unit 212 that is executed to install aproduct on the computing machine 204. The instrumented installation unit212 comprises the installation unit 112, a current install timeestimation unit 216, and a timing coefficients data structure 218. Theinstallation unit 112 executes operations to install the product in thenormal operating environment. The current install time estimation unit216 determines timing statistics in the normal operating environment 202(referred to herein as “current timing statistics”). The current timingstatistics and the timing coefficients 218 (determined in FIG. 1) may beused for estimating the install time in the normal operating environment202. It is noted that for simplicity, the normal operating environment202 is depicted to comprise one computing machine 204 and the operationsof FIG. 2 are described accordingly. However, in other implementations,the normal operating environment 202 can comprise any suitable number ofcomputing machines and the computing machines can be communicativelycoupled with each other in any suitable configuration. Also, theoperations described below in stages A-D for estimating the install timecan be implemented for product installation in a distributed environment(e.g., when different components/features of the product are installedon different computing machines in the normal operating environment).

At stage A, the installation unit 112 of the instrumented installationunit 212 determines an installation configuration option selected forinstalling a product in the normal operating environment 202. The userselects one or more components (e.g., services, applications, files,etc.) that should be installed in the normal operating environment 202as part of installing the product. The installation configuration optioncomprises an indication of the components of the product that wereselected by the user for installation. After the installationconfiguration option is selected, the installation unit 112 determinesan install plan associated with the installation configuration option.As will be described below in FIG. 5, the install plan provides astep-by-step listing of all the installation operations that will beexecuted for installing the product in accordance with the installationconfiguration option.

At stage B, the current install time estimation unit 216 identifies oneor more timing parameters and corresponding timing coefficientsassociated with the installation configuration option. As will befurther described with reference to FIG. 5, the current install timeestimation unit 216 identifies one or more timing parameters based onthe installation configuration option and the install plan. The currentinstall time estimation unit 216 accesses the corresponding timingcoefficients associated with the identified timing parameters and theinstallation configuration option from the timing coefficients datastructure 218. The current install time estimation unit 216 alsodetermines timing parameter test operations that should be executed tocalculate timing statistics in the normal operating environment(“current timing statistics”). In some implementations, the timingparameter test operations that are executed in the normal operatingenvironment 202 may be the same as those that were executed in the testenvironment 102 to determine the test environment timing statistics.

At stage C, the current install time estimation unit 216 determines thecurrent timing statistics based on the timing parameters and theinstallation configuration option. As will be further described withreference to FIG. 5, the current install time estimation unit 216executes a predetermined number of iterations of the timing parametertest operations on the machine(s) in the normal operating environment onwhich the product will be installed. The predetermined number ofiterations of the timing parameter test operations can be executed todetermine corresponding predetermined number of initial timing parametervalues. The current install time estimation unit 216 then determines theaverage of the predetermined number of initial timing parameter valuesto determine the current timing statistics. For example, responsive toidentifying a data copy parameter as the timing parameter associatedwith the selected installation configuration option, the current installtime estimation unit 216 determines test operations for the data copyparameter and executes a predetermined number of iterations (e.g., 20iterations) of the test operations for the data copy parameter. In thisexample, the current install time estimation unit 216 determinescorresponding 20 data copy time values and calculates the average of the20 data copy time values to determine a current data copy time value(which is the current timing statistics in this example).

At stage D, the current install time estimation unit 216 estimates theinstall time associated with installing the product in accordance withthe installation configuration option based, at least in part, on thecurrent timing statistics and the timing coefficients associated withthe installation configuration option. For each of the timingparameters, the current install time estimation unit 216 calculates aproduct of the timing coefficient associated with the timing parameterand the current timing statistic determined for the timing parameter, aswill be described with reference to FIG. 5. The current install timeestimation unit 216 then adds the calculated products associated witheach of the timing parameters to estimate the install time. Expressionsfor estimating the install time can also take other factors (e.g., errormargins and factors other than the timing parameters) that can impactthe install time into consideration.

It is noted that while estimating the install time in the normaloperating environment based on timing coefficients determined in thetest environment 102, the operation of the sample machines in the testenvironment 102 may be assumed to be linear with respect to the machinesin the normal operating environment 202. For example, it may bedetermined that the data communication speed supported by aninput/output (I/O) system in the test environment is 10 MBps and thatthe data communication speed supported by an I/O system in the normaloperating environment is 5 Mbps. Because of the linearity between thetest environment and the normal operating environment, it can be assumedthat the time to execute a set of operations in the normal operatingenvironment will be twice the time to execute the same set of operationsin the test environment. If only the I/O operations are taken intoconsideration while estimating the install time, the install time in thenormal operating environment may be twice the install time in the testenvironment. As another example, executing a set of database operations(e.g., connecting to a database, executing database queries such as SQLqueries, disconnecting from the database, etc.) in a test environmentmay consume a first database access time interval (e.g., 5 seconds).Executing the same set of database operations in the normal operatingenvironment may consume a second database access time interval (e.g., 15seconds). Because of the linearity between the test environment and thenormal operating environment, it can be assumed that the database in thenormal operating environment is three times slower than the database inthe test environment. Accordingly, it may be determined thatdatabase-related operations in the normal operating environment willconsume thrice the amount of time as compared to the test environment.

FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 depict a flow diagram illustrating example operationsfor determining timing coefficients to estimate the install time. Flow300 begins at block 302 in FIG. 3.

An installation configuration option in accordance with which to installa product in a test environment is determined (block 302). As describedabove with reference to FIG. 1, the installation configuration optionindicates which components (e.g., services, applications, files, etc. ofthe product to be installed) should be installed. An installationconfiguration selection screen may be presented to a user (e.g., anetwork administrator). In some implementations, the installationconfiguration selection screen may present a list of components of theproduct and may prompt the user to select one or more components thatshould be installed as part of installing the product. The installationconfiguration option indicates which of the components of the productwere selected by the user for installation. The flow continues at block304.

An install plan including one or more installation operations to beexecuted for installing the product in accordance with the installationconfiguration option is determined (block 304). The install planprovides a step-by-step listing of all the installation operations thatwill be executed to install the product in accordance with theinstallation configuration option determined at block 302. For example,the install plan may indicate that a first set of data should be copiedfrom an installation disk onto a local storage device, that a newdatabase comprising one or more tables should be created, that a secondset of data should be stored in the database, etc. The install planindicates a chronological listing of data/file copy operations, databaseoperations, network access operations, process start-up or shutdownoperations, and other suitable operations that will be executed forinstalling the product in accordance with the installation configurationoption. Installing different components of the product typicallyinvolves executing different installation operations. Therefore, theinstall plan can vary (i.e., comprise a different set of installationoperations) depending on the selected installation configuration option.For example, the install plan associated with a first installationconfiguration option may comprise a large number of database accessoperations, the install plan associated with a second installationconfiguration option may not comprise any database access operations,while the install plan associated with a third installationconfiguration option may only comprise data copy operations. The flowcontinues at block 306.

One or more timing parameters that influence the time for installing theproduct in accordance with the installation configuration option areidentified based, at least in part, on the install plan associated withthe installation configuration option (block 306). The install plan cancomprise data copy operations (e.g., file movement operations), I/Ooperations, database operations (e.g., database access, databasemodification, database creation, etc.), process shutdown operations,etc. Accordingly, the timing parameters can include a data copyparameter, database-related timing parameters (e.g., a database accessparameter, a database modification parameter, a database creationparameter, etc.), a process shutdown parameter, and other suitabletiming parameters. A good estimate of the time that will be required forinstalling a product in the normal operating environment can bedetermined by identifying the timing parameters (or at least a subset ofthe important timing parameters) that influence the install time. Thiscan enable prediction of the install time irrespective of the complexityof the installation process.

The install plan associated with the installation configuration optiontypically comprises a variety of installation operations. Some of theinstallation operations consume a minimal amount of time (e.g., a UNIX®ls command that lists the contents of a directory) while otherinstallation operations (e.g., operations associated with IBM WebSphere®applications) consume a longer time. Depending on the desired accuracyof the install time estimate, some or all of the installation operationsof the install plan can be used to identify the timing parameters and todetermine the timing parameters for subsequent estimation of the installtime in the normal operating environment. In one implementation, all ofthe installation operations of the install plan are taken intoconsideration to determine the timing parameters associated with theselected installation configuration option. For example, if the installplan contains a set of data copy operations and process shutdownoperations, a data copy parameter and a process shutdown parameter areselected as the timing parameters associated with the selectedinstallation configuration option. In another implementation, theinstallation operations that consume the longest durations (e.g., theset of operations that consume a predetermined percentage (e.g., 80%) ofthe total time) are taken into consideration to determine the timingparameters associated with the selected installation configurationoption. In one example, the install plan comprises a set of data copyoperations, database-related operations, and process shutdownoperations. If it is determined that the database-related operationsconsume the most amount of time, only a database manipulation parameteris selected as the timing parameter associated with the selectedinstallation configuration option. In some implementations, each set ofoperations can comprise corresponding constituent sub-operations. Forexample, the database-related operations can comprise operations forcreating a database, establishing a connection to the database, storingdata entries in the database, executing database queries, andterminating the connection with the database. In some implementations,all of the sub-operations are taken into consideration (e.g., as part ofthe timing parameter test operations described below) to determine thetest timing parameter values described below. Alternatively, thedatabase manipulation parameter may be divided into a databaseconnection sub-parameter, a database query sub-parameter, a databasetermination sub-parameter, etc. However, some of the sub-operations maytake longer to execute than others. In this example, it may bedetermined that the operations for creating the database consume amajority (80% in one example) of the time. Accordingly only the databasecreation sub-operations can be taken into consideration (e.g., as partof the timing parameter test operations described below) to determinethe test environment timing parameter values described below. In otherwords, the database access parameter may only comprise a databaseconnection sub-parameter. The flow continues at block 308.

For each of the timing parameters, timing parameter test operations thatshould be executed to determine test timing parameter values areidentified (block 308). The timing parameter test operations comprise aset of one or more operations that should be executed to determine howlong it takes to execute test operations for the timing parameter on asample machine in the test environment (described below). In oneexample, the data copy parameter and the process shutdown parameter areselected as the timing parameters associated with the installationconfiguration option. Accordingly, the timing parameter test operationsfor the data copy parameter and the process shutdown parameter aredetermined (e.g., based on accessing a data structure or a suitablememory location, based on information hardcoded into an install timeestimation unit, etc.). For example, the timing parameter testoperations for the data copy parameter comprise copying a file (e.g., asection of memory) from one location to another location. As anotherexample, the timing parameter test operations for the data copyparameter comprise copying a file from one storage device to anotherstorage device. As another example, the timing parameter test operationsfor the process shutdown parameter comprise starting and terminating oneor more predetermined processes. As another example, the timingparameter test operations for a database manipulation parameter compriseestablishing a connection with the database, creating a database table,executing one or more database queries, and terminating the connectionwith the database. It is noted that in other implementations, othersuitable timing parameter test operations can be executed. The flowcontinues at block 310.

A loop begins for each of a plurality of sample machines in the testenvironment (block 310). In some implementations, if knowledge of thenormal operating environment (e.g., a customer environment in which theproduct will eventually be installed) is available a priori, the samplemachines in the test environment are selected to approximately match theconfiguration of machines in the normal operating environment. In otherimplementations, however, the sample machines in the test environmentare selected in accordance with any suitable sample machineconfiguration. In some implementations, a predetermined number of samplemachines (e.g., 50 machines) can be selected per computing platform (oroperating system). However, subsets of the sample machines may beconfigured to implement different versions of the computing platform.For example, for a Microsoft® Windows® operating system, a first subsetof the sample machines may be configured to implement a Windows 2000operating system, a second subset of sample machines may be configuredto implement a Windows 7 operating system, and so on. In someimplementations, the number of sample machines that constitute each ofthe subsets are based on knowledge of the configuration of machines inthe normal operating environment. In other implementations, each of thesubsets can comprise any suitable number of sample machines. Theoperations described below in blocks 312-314 are then executed on eachof the sample machines to determine the test environment timingstatistics. The flow continues at block 312.

For each of the timing parameters, the timing parameter test operationsassociated with the timing parameter are executed to determine a testtiming parameter value associated with the timing parameter (block 312).A predetermined number of iterations of the timing parameter testoperations are executed on the sample machine to determine correspondingpredetermined number of initial timing parameter values. An average ofthe predetermined number of initial timing parameter values iscalculated to determine the test timing parameter value associated withthe timing parameter and the sample machine. In one example as describedabove with reference to block 308, the timing parameter test operationsassociated with the data copy parameter comprises copying a file fromone location to another location. The timing parameter test operationsare executed a predetermined number of times (e.g., 100 times) todetermine corresponding predetermined number of data copy time values.In this example, the file is copied from one location to anotherlocation 100 times to determine corresponding 100 data copy time values.An average of the 100 data copy time values is calculated to determine atest data copy time value (T_(copy)) for the sample machine. Likewise,the timing parameter test operations associated with the processshutdown parameter may comprise starting and terminating a predeterminedprocess. The timing parameter test operations are executed thepredetermined number of times (e.g., the predetermined process isstarted and terminated 100 times) to determine corresponding 100 processshutdown time values. An average of the 100 process shutdown time valuesis calculated to determine a test process shutdown time value(T_(shutdown)) for the sample machine. It is noted that in otherimplementations, test operations for other suitable timing parametersmay be executed to determine the corresponding test timing parametervalue. For example, as described above, the timing parameter testoperations associated with the database manipulation parameter maycomprise establishing a connection with the database, executing one ormore database queries, and closing the connection with the database.This set of timing parameter test operations for the databasemanipulation parameter may be executed 100 times to determinecorresponding 100 database manipulation time values. An average of the100 database manipulation time values can be calculated to determine atest database manipulation time value for the sample machine. It isnoted that the database manipulation time interval can depend on whetherthe database is remote or local, the communication network topology, thetraffic on the communication network, etc. The flow continues at block314 in FIG. 4.

The one or more installation operations associated with the installationconfiguration option are executed to determine a test install time valuefor the sample machine (block 314). The predetermined number ofiterations of the installation operations are executed on the samplemachine to determine corresponding predetermined number of initialinstall time values. An average of the predetermined number of initialinstall time values is calculated to determine the test install timevalue associated with the sample machine. As described above withreference to the example of block 312, the timing parameter testoperations associated with the data copy parameter and the processshutdown parameter were each executed 100 times to determine 100 datacopy time values and 100 process shutdown time values respectively.Likewise, at block 314, the installation operations (determined at block304) associated with the installation configuration option are executed100 times on the sample machine to determine corresponding 100 installtime values for the sample machine. An average of the 100 install timevalues is calculated to determine a test install time value(T_(install)) for the sample machine. The flow continues at block 316.

It is determined whether additional sample machines in the testenvironment are to be analyzed (block 316). If it is determined thatadditional sample machines in the test environment are to be analyzed,the flow continues at block 310 in FIG. 3, where the next sample machineis identified and operations described above in blocks 312 and 314 areexecuted for the next sample machine. Otherwise, the flow continues atblock 318.

The test timing parameter values and the test install time values foreach of the sample machines are processed to identify timingcoefficients for each of the timing parameters (block 318). Forconvenience, the test timing parameter values for each of the samplemachines and the test install time values for each of the samplemachines are together referred to as the test environment timingstatistics. Suitable data extrapolation operations (or statisticalanalysis) are executed on the test environment timing statistics toidentify the timing coefficients associated with the timing parameters,as depicted in Exp. 1. For example, statistical analysis is performedusing the test install time values and the test timing parameter valuesto determine the relationship between the install time and the timingparameters. When linear regression techniques are employed, therelationship between the install time and the timing parameters isexpressed by the equation of a straight line. In one example, linearregression operations can be executed based on the test install timevalues (T_(install)) for each of the sample machines, the test data copytime values (T_(copy)) for each of the sample machines, and the processshutdown time values (T_(shutdown)) for each of the sample machines, asdepicted in Exp. 1 to determine the relationship between the installtime, the data copy time, and the process shutdown time.T _(install)=Constant+(K _(copy) *T _(copy))+(K _(shutdown) *T_(shutdown))  Exp. 1

In Exp. 1, K_(copy) and K_(shutdown) are the timing coefficients (orregression coefficients) associated with the data copy parameter and theprocess shutdown parameter respectively for the selected installationconfiguration option. The constant is also referred to as an error termand can capture the other factors (e.g., other than the data copyparameter and the process shutdown parameter) that influence the installtime. In some implementations, the constant can also account formeasurement errors. The timing coefficients and the constant arecalculated by combining the test install time values and the test timingparameter values, both of which were determined for each of theplurality of sample machines. For example, in accordance with linearregression operations, the constant can be calculated by summing thetest timing parameter values determined for the sample machines,multiplying this sum with the timing coefficient associated with thetiming parameter, subtracting the result from the sum of the testinstall time values, and dividing the result by the number of samplemachines in the test environment. The timing parameters, thecorresponding timing coefficients, and the constant together form an“install time estimation expression” that is used to estimate theinstall time in a normal operating environment. It is noted that inother implementations, other suitable data extrapolation techniques,line fitting techniques, curve-fitting techniques, or data analysistechniques can be employed to determining the timing coefficients andthe install time estimation expression. It is also noted that althoughExp. 1 depicts an install time estimation expression with the data copyparameter and the process shutdown parameter, embodiments are not solimited. In other embodiments, the install time estimation expressioncan comprise any suitable number and type of timing parameters. The flowcontinues at bock 320.

The timing coefficients, the corresponding timing parameters, and theinstallation configuration option are stored for subsequent use inestimating the install time in a normal operating environment (block320). In some implementations, the timing coefficients, thecorresponding timing parameters, and the installation configurationoption can be stored as part of an installation unit that will beexecuted to install the product in the normal operating environment.Additionally, the platform (e.g., AIX, Windows, etc.) for which theinstall time estimation expression was determined can also be stored aspart of the installation unit. As will be further described in FIG. 5,when the installation configuration option is selected, an appropriateinstall time estimation expression can be selected, and current timingstatistics can be determined in the normal operating environment. Thecurrent timing statistics can be used in the selected install timeestimation expression to estimate the install time in the normaloperating environment. From block 320, the flow ends.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating example operations for estimatingthe install time in a normal operating environment using previouslycalculated timing coefficients. Flow 500 begins at block 502.

An installation configuration option in accordance with which to installa product in a normal operating environment is determined (block 502).As described above with reference to FIG. 3, an installationconfiguration selection screen is presented to a user (e.g., anenterprise network administrator) of the normal operating environment(e.g., a business enterprise environment). The user selects one or morecomponents (e.g., services, applications, files, etc.) that should beinstalled in the normal operating environment as part of installing theproduct. The installation configuration option comprises an indicationof the components of the product were selected by the user forinstallation. The flow continues at block 504.

An install plan including one or more installation operations to beexecuted for installing the product in accordance with the installationconfiguration option is determined (block 504). As described above withreference to FIG. 3, the install plan provides a step-by-step listing ofall the installation operations that will be executed to install theproduct in accordance with the installation configuration option.Installing different components of the product typically involvesexecuting different installation operations. Therefore, the install planvaries (i.e., comprise a different set of installation operations)depending on the selected installation configuration option. The flowcontinues at block 506.

A predetermined install time estimation expression that comprises acombination of one or more timing parameters and corresponding timingcoefficients is selected based, at least in part, on the install planassociated with the installation configuration option (block 506). Asdescribed above, the install plan associated with the selectedinstallation configuration option indicates the installation operationsthat will be executed for installing the product in accordance with theinstallation configuration option. The install plan is analyzed todetermine one or more timing parameters associated with the installationconfiguration option. For example, the install plan may indicate thatdata copy operations, process termination operations, and databasemanipulation operations will be performed to install the product inaccordance with the installation configuration option. Accordingly, adata copy parameter, a process shutdown parameter, and a databasemanipulation parameter may be selected as the timing parametersassociated with the installation configuration option. In someimplementations, the user may indicate the accuracy with which theinstall time should be estimated. For example, to determine a veryaccurate estimate of the install time, all the timing parametersassociated with the installation configuration option may be taken intoconsideration while estimating the install time. As another example, todetermine an approximate estimate of the install time, only a subset ofthe timing parameters associated with the installation configurationoption may be taken into consideration while estimating the installtime. In this example, it may be determined that the databasemanipulation operations constitute a majority of the installationoperations (or consume a majority of the install time). Accordingly,only the database manipulation parameter may be used to estimate theinstall time.

Based on knowledge of the installation configuration option and thecorresponding timing parameters, an appropriate install time estimationexpression is selected. In some implementations, the selectedinstallation configuration option is associated with multiple installtime estimation expressions. The appropriate install time estimationexpression is selected based on the timing parameters that will be usedto estimate the install time. For example, the selected installationconfiguration option can be associated with two install time estimationexpressions—a first expression that uses the data copy parameter, theprocess shutdown parameter, and the database manipulation parameter anda second expression that uses only the database manipulation parameter.If it determined that an approximate estimate of the install time shouldbe determined and only the database manipulation parameter should beused, the second install time estimation expression can be selected. Theflow continues at block 508.

For each of the one or more timing parameters of the selected installtime estimation expression, timing parameter test operations that shouldbe executed to determine current timing parameter values are identified(block 508). As described above with reference to block 308 in FIG. 3,the timing parameter test operations comprise a set of one or moreoperations that should be executed to determine how long it takes toexecute test operations for the timing parameter (“current timingparameter values”) in the normal operating environment. In someimplementations, the timing parameter test operations that are executedin the normal operating environment may be the same as those that wereexecuted in the test environment to determine the install timeestimation expressions. In some implementations, the timing parametertest operations may be provided as part of the installation unit (e.g.,hardcoded or stored at a predetermined memory location). As describedabove, in one example, the timing parameter test operations for the datacopy parameter comprise copying a predetermined amount of data (e.g., a5 GB file) from one location to another location or from one storagedevice to another storage device. As another example, the timingparameter test operations for the database manipulation parametercomprise creating a database, connecting to the database, executing oneor more data storage operations and data access operations, anddisconnecting from the database. As another example, the timingparameter test operations for the process shutdown parameter comprisestarting and terminating one or more predetermined processes. In someimplementations, the processes that are started and terminated as partof the timing parameter test operations for the process shutdownparameter may be processes that are known to exist on machines in thenormal operating environment. In some implementations, the installationunit comprises a list (e.g., hardcoded as part of the installation unitor stored in a predetermined memory location) of one or more processesthat are likely present on machines in the normal operating environment.For example, for a Windows operating system, these processes cancomprise a Windows Telnet process, a Windows log on process, an Internetlog on service, etc. To execute the timing parameter test operations forthe process shutdown parameter, one or more of the processes can beselected (e.g., randomly, based on the priority of the listed processes,based on the availability of the listed processes on the machines in thenormal operating environment, and/or based on other suitable criteria).The selected processes are then started and terminated in accordancewith the timing parameter test operations to determine the processshutdown time in the normal operating environment (“current processshutdown time value”). The flow continues at block 510.

For each of the timing parameters, the timing parameter test operationsassociated with the timing parameter are executed to determine a currenttiming parameter value associated with the timing parameter (block 510).As described above with reference to block 312 of FIG. 3, apredetermined number of iterations of the timing parameter testoperations are executed on the machine(s) in the normal operatingenvironment on which the product will be installed. The predeterminednumber of iterations of the timing parameter test operations may beexecuted to determine corresponding predetermined number of initialtiming parameter values. An average of the predetermined number ofinitial timing parameter values is calculated to determine the amount oftime consumed in executing the same processes (i.e., the timingparameter test operations) in the normal operating environment.Typically, the installation unit can comprise a background process (orthread) that determines the current timing parameter values. It is notedthat the timing parameter test operations may be executed a fewer numberof times in the normal operating environment as compared to the testenvironment. For example, if the timing parameter test operations wereexecuted 100 times in the test environment to determine the test timingparameter values, the timing parameter test operations may be executed20 times in the normal operating environment to determine the currenttiming parameter values. As described above with reference to block 312in FIG. 3, the timing parameter test operations for the data copyparameter is executed a predetermined number of times (e.g., 20 times)to determine a corresponding predetermined number of data copy timevalues (e.g., 20 data copy time values). An average of the 20 data copytime values is calculated to determine a current data copy time value(T_(current) _(—) _(copy)) in the normal operating environment.Likewise, a current process shutdown time value (T_(current) _(—)_(shutdown)) and other suitable current timing parameter values (e.g., acurrent database manipulation time value) are also determined in thenormal operating environment. The flow continues at block 512.

The install time in the normal operating environment is estimated based,at least in part, on the current timing parameter values and theselected install time estimation expression (block 512). For example,suppose that the install time estimation expression selected at block506 was the expression depicted by Exp. 1. As described above, thetiming coefficients K_(copy) and K_(shutdown) and the constant are knownquantities in the install time estimation expression. In this example,the appropriate current timing parameter values (determined at block510) are the current data copy time value T_(current) _(—) _(copy) andthe current process shutdown time value T_(current) _(—) _(shutdown).These current timing parameter values are inserted into the install timeestimation expression as depicted by Exp. 2. The right side of Exp. 2 issolved to estimate the install time for installing the product inaccordance with the installation configuration option in the normaloperating environment. From block 512, the flow ends.T _(current) _(—) _(install)=Constant+(K _(copy) *T _(current) _(—)_(copy))+(K _(shutdown) *T _(current) _(—) _(shutdown))  Exp. 2

It should be understood that FIGS. 1-5 are examples meant to aid inunderstanding embodiments and should not be used to limit embodiments orlimit scope of the claims. Embodiments may perform additionaloperations, fewer operations, operations in a different order,operations in parallel, and some operations differently. In someimplementations, after the install time estimate in the normal operatingenvironment is presented (e.g., on a display unit to a networkadministrator), the network administrator can determine whether toterminate (or initiate) the execution of one or more processes in thenormal operating environment. For example, if the estimate of theinstall time is high, the network administrator may identify one or moreprocesses that can be terminated and may terminate the identifiedprocesses to potentially reduce the install time. The networkadministrator can then provide an input (e.g., by clicking on a “startinstall” link) to initiate installation of the product in the normaloperating environment in accordance with the installation configurationoption.

Although examples describe data copy operations and process shutdownoperations being taken into consideration to determine the install timeestimation expression (see Exp. 1) and to estimate the install time inthe normal operating environment (see Exp. 2), embodiments are not solimited. In other embodiments, other suitable operations of the installplan associated with the installation configuration option are takeninto consideration to determine the install time estimation expressionand to estimate the install time in the normal operating environment.For example, network round trips, database round trips, WebSphere roundtrips, whether the installing will be performed in a distributedenvironment, security and firewall issues, and other such factors mayalso be taken into consideration.

In some implementations, the functionality for generating the installtime estimation expressions (described in FIGS. 3 and 4) and thefunctionality for using the install time estimation expressions toestimate the install time (described in FIG. 5) can be combined into astandalone install time estimation utility. The standalone install timeestimation utility can be executed in the normal operating environmentto improve the accuracy of the install time estimate. In other words,instead of executing the operations of FIGS. 3-4 in the test environmentand determining the install time estimation expressions based on timingstatistics collected in the test environment, the operations of FIGS.3-4 may be executed in the normal operating environment (e.g., in acustomer's enterprise environment) and the install time estimationexpressions can be determined based on timing statistics obtained in thenormal operating environment. The install time estimation expressionsthat are tailored to the normal operating environment can be determinedfor various installation configurations and can then be stored. Inresponse to determining to install the product in the normal operatingenvironment, the operations of FIG. 5 can be executed to select theappropriate install time estimation expression and to estimate theinstall time.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the presentinventive subject matter may be embodied as a system, method or computerprogram product. Accordingly, aspects of the present inventive subjectmatter may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirelysoftware embodiment (including firmware, resident software, micro-code,etc.) or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that mayall generally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or“system.” Furthermore, aspects of the present inventive subject mattermay take the form of a computer program product embodied in one or morecomputer readable medium(s) having computer readable program codeembodied thereon.

Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s) may beutilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signalmedium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readablestorage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic,magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system,apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. Morespecific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer readablestorage medium would include the following: an electrical connectionhaving one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, arandom access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber,a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storagedevice, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable storagemedium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or store a programfor use by or in connection with an instruction execution system,apparatus, or device.

A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signalwith computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, inbaseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may takeany of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to,electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. Acomputer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium thatis not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate,propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with aninstruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

Program code embodied on a computer readable medium may be transmittedusing any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless,wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination ofthe foregoing.

Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of thepresent inventive subject matter may be written in any combination ofone or more programming languages, including an object orientedprogramming language such as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like andconventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C”programming language or similar programming languages. The program codemay execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user'scomputer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user'scomputer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remotecomputer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may beconnected to the user's computer through any type of network, includinga local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or theconnection may be made to an external computer (for example, through theInternet using an Internet Service Provider).

Aspects of the present inventive subject matter are described withreference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods,apparatus (systems) and computer program products according toembodiments of the inventive subject matter. It will be understood thateach block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, andcombinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or blockdiagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. Thesecomputer program instructions may be provided to a processor of ageneral purpose computer, special purpose computer, or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such thatthe instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer orother programmable data processing apparatus, create means forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computerreadable medium that can direct a computer, other programmable dataprocessing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readablemedium produce an article of manufacture including instructions whichimplement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer,other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to causea series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, otherprogrammable apparatus or other devices to produce a computerimplemented process such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer or other programmable apparatus provide processes forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of one embodiment of an electronic system 600including a mechanism for estimating the install time. The electronicsystem 600 includes a processor unit 602 (possibly including multipleprocessors, multiple cores, multiple nodes, and/or implementingmulti-threading, etc.). The electronic system 600 includes a memory unit606. The memory unit 606 may be system memory (e.g., one or more ofcache, SRAM, DRAM, zero capacitor RAM, Twin Transistor RAM, eDRAM, EDORAM, DDR RAM, EEPROM, NRAM, RRAM, SONOS, PRAM, etc.) or any one or moreof the above already described possible realizations of computerreadable storage media. The electronic system 600 also includes a bus610 (e.g., PCI, ISA, PCI-Express, HyperTransport®, InfiniBand®, NuBus,AHB, AXI, etc.), and a network interface 604 that includes at least oneof a wireless network interface (e.g., a WLAN interface, a Bluetooth®interface, a WiMAX interface, a ZigBee® interface, a Wireless USBinterface, etc.) and a wired network interface (e.g., an Ethernetinterface, an ATM interface, a Frame Relay interface, SONET interface,etc.). The processor unit 602, the memory unit 606, and the networkinterface 604 are coupled to the bus 610.

The electronic system 600 also includes an install time estimation unit608. The install time estimation unit 608 can implement functionality todetermine one or more timing parameters that influence the install timeassociated with installing a product in accordance with a selectedinstallation configuration option. The install time estimation unit 608can determine test timing statistics and can use the test timingstatistics to determine an install time estimation expression associatedwith the installation configuration option, as described above in FIGS.1, 3, and 4. In a normal operating environment, the install timeestimation unit 608 can determine (e.g., responsive to user input) toinstall the product in accordance with the installation configurationoption. Accordingly, the install time estimation unit 608 can identifyan appropriate install time estimation expression and can determinecurrent timing statistics in the normal operating environment. Theinstall time estimation unit 608 can use the install time estimationexpression and the current timing statistics to estimate the installtime in the normal operating environment, as described above in FIGS. 2and 5.

Although FIG. 6 depicts the install time estimation unit 608 beingimplemented as part of the electronic system 600, it is noted that inother implementations, the install time estimation unit 608 can beembodied on a distinct circuit board (or integrated circuit) and may beexternally coupled with the processor unit 602 and/or the electronicsystem 600. For example, the install time estimation unit 608 can beimplemented as part of an installation unit that comprises and executesoperations for installing the product. In some implementations, theelectronic system 600 may be a circuit board, a system on a chip, aninterconnection of one or more integrated circuits, or other suitableelectronic systems. Any one of these functionalities may be partially(or entirely) implemented in hardware and/or on the processor unit 602.For example, the functionality may be implemented with an applicationspecific integrated circuit, in logic implemented in the processor unit602, in a co-processor on a peripheral device or card, etc. Further,realizations may include fewer or additional components not illustratedin FIG. 6 (e.g., video cards, audio cards, additional networkinterfaces, peripheral devices, etc.). Although illustrated as beingcoupled to the bus 610, the memory unit 606 may be coupled to theprocessor unit 602.

While the embodiments are described with reference to variousimplementations and exploitations, it will be understood that theseembodiments are illustrative and that the scope of the inventive subjectmatter is not limited to them. In general, techniques for estimatinginstall time as described herein may be implemented with facilitiesconsistent with any hardware system or hardware systems. Manyvariations, modifications, additions, and improvements are possible.

Plural instances may be provided for components, operations orstructures described herein as a single instance. Finally, boundariesbetween various components, operations and data stores are somewhatarbitrary, and particular operations are illustrated in the context ofspecific illustrative configurations. Other allocations of functionalityare envisioned and may fall within the scope of the inventive subjectmatter. In general, structures and functionality presented as separatecomponents in the exemplary configurations may be implemented as acombined structure or component. Similarly, structures and functionalitypresented as a single component may be implemented as separatecomponents. These and other variations, modifications, additions, andimprovements may fall within the scope of the inventive subject matter.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer program product for estimating installtime, the computer program product comprising: a computer readablestorage medium having computer usable program code embodied therewith,the computer usable program code to: identify a timing parameter thatinfluences the install time for installing a product on a plurality ofsample computing machines in a test environment in accordance with aninstallation operation; for each of the plurality of sample computingmachines, determine a test value of the timing parameter for the samplecomputing machine based on execution of timing parameter test operationsassociated with the timing parameter; determine a test value of theinstall time for the sample computing machine based on execution of theinstallation operation; and determine a timing coefficient for thetiming parameter based on the test values of the timing parameter andthe test values of the install time.
 2. The computer program product ofclaim 1, wherein the computer usable program code to determine the testvalue of the install time for each of the plurality of sample computingmachines comprises computer usable program code to: for each of theplurality of sample computing machines, for a predetermined number ofiterations, determine an initial test environment install time valuebased on execution of the installation operation on the sample computingmachine; and calculate an average of the initial test environmentinstall time values to determine the test value of the install time forthe sample computing machine.
 3. The computer program product of claim1, wherein the computer usable program code to determine a test value ofthe timing parameter for each of the plurality of sample computingmachines comprises computer usable program code to: for each of theplurality of sample computing machines, for a predetermined number ofiterations, determine an initial test environment timing parameter valuebased on execution of the timing parameter test operations on the samplecomputing machine; and calculate an average of the initial testenvironment timing parameter values to determine the test value of thetiming parameter for the sample computing machine.
 4. The computerprogram product of claim 1, further comprising computer usable programcode to: record the timing coefficient and the installation operation,wherein the install time for installing the product in accordance withthe installation operation in a non-test operating environment isestimated based on the timing coefficient.
 5. The computer programproduct of claim 1, further comprising computer usable program code to:generate an install time calculation expression for estimating theinstall time associated with installing the product in accordance withthe installation operation, wherein the install time calculationexpression comprises at least a combination of the timing parameter andthe timing coefficient associated with the timing parameter; and storethe install time calculation expression as part of an installation unit,wherein the installation unit is executed for installing the product ina non-test operating environment.
 6. The computer program product ofclaim 1, further comprising computer usable program code to: responsiveto determining to install the product in a non-test operatingenvironment in accordance with the installation operation, select afirst of a plurality of predetermined install time calculationexpressions that comprises at least a combination of the timingparameter and the corresponding timing coefficient based, at least inpart, on the installation operation in accordance with which to installthe product in the non-test operating environment; determine a currentvalue of the timing parameter based on execution of the timing parametertest operations in the non-test operating environment; and estimate theinstall time associated with installing the product in accordance withthe installation operation in the non-test operating environment basedon the current value of the timing parameter, the timing coefficient,and the first of the plurality of install time calculation expressions.7. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein the computer usableprogram code to select the first of the plurality of predeterminedinstall time calculation expressions comprises computer usable programcode to: select the first of the plurality of predetermined install timecalculation expressions based on the installation operation and a userselected accuracy level associated with estimating the install time. 8.The computer program product of claim 6, wherein the computer usableprogram code to determine the current value of the timing parametercomprises computer usable program code to: for a predetermined number ofiterations, determine an initial timing parameter value based onexecution of the timing parameter test operations in the non-testoperating environment; and calculate an average of the initial timingparameter values to determine the current value of the timing parameterin the non-test operating environment.
 9. The computer program productof claim 1, wherein the timing parameter comprises at least one of adata copy parameter, a process shutdown parameter, a database parameter,a network round-trip parameter, and a hard disk access parameter, andwherein the test value of the timing parameter comprise at least one ofa data copy time interval, a process shutdown time interval, a databasetime interval, a network round-trip time interval, and a hard diskaccess time interval.
 10. The computer program product of claim 1,wherein installing the product comprises installing a plurality ofcomponents of the product, and wherein the installation operationindicates at least a subset of the components of the product selectedfor installation.
 11. A method comprising: identifying a timingparameter that influences an install time for installing a product on aplurality of sample computing machines in a test environment inaccordance with an installation operation; for each of the plurality ofsample computing machines, determining a test value of the timingparameter for the sample computing machine based on execution of timingparameter test operations associated with the timing parameter;determining a test value of the install time for the sample computingmachine based on execution of the installation operation; anddetermining a timing coefficient for the timing parameter based on thetest values of the timing parameter and the test values of the installtime.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein said determining the testvalue of the install time for each of the plurality of sample computingmachines comprises: for each of the plurality of sample computingmachines, for a predetermined number of iterations, determining aninitial test environment install time value based on execution of theinstallation operation on the sample computing machine; and calculatingan average of the initial test environment install time values todetermine the test value of the install time for the sample computingmachine.
 13. The method of claim 11, further comprising: recoding thetiming coefficient and the installation operation, wherein the installtime for installing the product in accordance with the installationoperation in a non-test operating environment is estimated based on thetiming coefficient.
 14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:generating an install time calculation expression for estimating theinstall time associated with installing the product in accordance withthe installation operation, wherein the install time calculationexpression comprises at least a combination of the timing parameter andthe timing coefficient associated with the timing parameter; and storingthe install time calculation expression as part of an installation unit,wherein the installation unit is executed for installing the product ina non-test operating environment.
 15. The method of claim 11, furthercomprising: responsive to determining to install the product in anon-test operating environment in accordance with the installationoperation, selecting a first of a plurality of predetermined installtime calculation expressions that comprises at least a combination ofthe timing parameter and the corresponding timing coefficient based, atleast in part, on the installation operation in accordance with which toinstall the product in the non-test operating environment; determining acurrent value of the timing parameter based on execution of the timingparameter test operations in the non-test operating environment; andestimating the install time associated with installing the product inaccordance with the installation operation in the non-test operatingenvironment based on the current value of the timing parameter, thetiming coefficient, and the first of the plurality of install timecalculation expressions.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein saidselecting the first of the plurality of predetermined install timecalculation expressions comprises: selecting the first of the pluralityof predetermined install time calculation expressions based on theinstallation operation and a user selected accuracy level associatedwith estimating the install time.
 17. An apparatus comprising: aprocessor; a network interface coupled with the processor; and acomputer readable storage medium having computer usable program codeembodied therewith, the computer usable program code executable by theprocessor to cause the apparatus to: identify a timing parameter thatinfluences an install time for installing a product on a plurality ofsample computing machines in a test environment in accordance with aninstallation operation; for each of the plurality of sample computingmachines, determine a test value of the timing parameter for the samplecomputing machine based on execution of timing parameter test operationsassociated with the timing parameter; determine a test value of theinstall time for the sample computing machine based on execution of theinstallation operation; and determine a timing coefficient for thetiming parameter based on the test values of the timing parameter andthe test values of the install time.
 18. The apparatus of claim 17,wherein the computer readable storage medium comprising computer usableprogram code executable by the processor to cause the apparatus todetermine the test value of the install time for each of the pluralityof sample computing machines comprises computer usable program codeexecutable by the processor to cause the apparatus to: for each of theplurality of sample computing machines, for a predetermined number ofiterations, determine an initial test environment install time valuebased on execution of the installation operation on the sample computingmachine; and calculate an average of the initial test environmentinstall time values to determine the test value of the install time forthe sample computing machine.
 19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein thecomputer readable storage medium further comprises computer usableprogram code executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to:generate an install time calculation expression for estimating theinstall time associated with installing the product in accordance withthe installation operation, wherein the install time calculationexpression comprises at least a combination of the timing parameter andthe timing coefficient associated with the timing parameter.
 20. Theapparatus of claim 17, wherein the computer readable storage mediumfurther comprises computer usable program code executable by theprocessor to cause the apparatus to: responsive to determining toinstall the product in a non-test operating environment in accordancewith the installation operation, select a first of a plurality ofpredetermined install time calculation expressions that comprises atleast a combination of the timing parameter and the corresponding timingcoefficient based, at least in part, on the installation operation inaccordance with which to install the product in the non-test operatingenvironment; determine a current value of the timing parameter based onexecution of the timing parameter test operations in the non-testoperating environment; and estimate the install time associated withinstalling the product in accordance with the installation operation inthe non-test operating environment based on the current value of thetiming parameter, the timing coefficient, and the first of the pluralityof install time calculation expressions.